Running to or from? [Open]

In the early evenings of July, fluffy white clouds filled the sky. The world was lit by golden bars that beamed down onto the Earth, all the while competing with an overcast of ocean blue and tall lush trees that stood taller than the highest skyscrapers of Tsubaki Park. The fluffy orbs moved slowly overheard providing a hidden comfort to the citizens below. This was nothing new; July was one of the hottest months that the world had to offer considering that it signified the start of summer for some students. However, for others it signaled the start of a new school year; for the plants it was one of the many times that they stood in their prime. The flowers were in full bloom, clusters of tulips, roses, lavender and the like spiked from the ground forming a beautiful bouquet of colors. The flowers now formed a protective veil around the small pond located in the middle of the park.

From the far corners of the park, Shotō moved casually through the park garbed in a pair of grey joggers and a white button down. Gripping his backpack with a book in hand, he dove deeper into the park in order to find a spot to read. Occasionally he would stop to bend down and sniff the flowers, allowing their sweet scents to encase his senses. He adored the smell of flowers, they were the sweetest things.

Continuing, he could already see the small pond and the gazebo that would soon house his reading quarters. He adored it there. Since his childhood he and his mother would come to the park to read in order to escape their hectic household. His mother would sing to him on those days, singing sweet songs about the trees and the butterflies, creating a soft melody for him as he read. He listened, hearing the chirping of birds, he looked up at the sky and smiled. It was like being a child again, only this time his mother wasn't here to sing to him.

Ducking and diving down he would finally come up on a small bench in the corner of the gazebo. It was located closest near the pond and near the cluster of flowers, which were oddly different the ones he had seen on her way up here. A sigh escaped his lips. Quickly moving towards the bench he placed the book beside him and allowed his light blue gems look around checking for signs of another person. Not a single mass, aside from the flora and fauna, stood near her much to his appreciation. Taking his hand, he dipped it into the pond for but a moment, allowing himself to feel the cool waters on his skin before shaking the water off and proceeding to open his book.

It didn't take him a second before he was already nose deep into his book, and then he heard a noise. It was the sound of sound of someone coming towards him and he was frozen in fear. Looking up he caught wind of a girl running in his direction, and though he was generally a friendly person, Shotō found himself not wanting the person to notice him. He had to move before she saw him. Standing, he grabbed all of his belongings, looking for a new place to sit before he started moving. Creeping around the bench, and much like clumsy oaf, he dropped his books onto the ground and released a loud yelping noise in the process. Damnit...she was going to see him.


[ OOC ] Touko Saitou

for the record my

heart

“

Introvert. Extrovert. Imagine a mixture of the two and you have Shotō; sometimes so wrapped up in his feelings and others times he was wrapped up in the feelings of others. There were times when the extrovert part of his personality made a full appearance, but then there were times, 6/10 to be exact, where the introvert part of the boy rued its ugly head. And it was doing that at this very second; maybe if the extrovert part of him was in full swing he would have been able to handle the situation a lot better. But right now, here he was, standing in front a brown-haired beauty with a lump in his throat that was gradually growing bigger the longer he stared at her. She wasn't exactly the most intimidating girl in the world but there was something about her that made Shotō shrivel back into the shy boy that his mother raised, and he knew it was probably painfully obvious by the slight expression of fear on his face. Even when she reached her hand out to help him, he couldn't help but to flinch a little. He jolted back ever so slightly, then he remembered everything his mother had told him. Be kind. Make friends. Don't be scared.

Deep breathes kid. Breath deep and you'll be alright. C'mon now, kid fix yourself and smile.

His mental note went unheard. The thoughts played in his head like a broken record, repeating themselves over and over for what seemed like a million times before the boy finally shook the thoughts from his mind and adjusted his posture. Quickly, he grabbed his things and stuffed them in his bag, then proceeded to reach his hand outward to grab hold of hers and shake it. He offered the girl a smile and then took his time examining her frame entirely. Appearance wise, her soft features almost reminded him of his mother or his older sister, or a creative mixture of both. He couldn't help but admit that she was rather attractive, which may account for him being scared of her. Although, Shotō doubted that her appearance was what intimidated him since the part of him that dealt with attraction was rarely acknowledged.

Touko. That was the name of this little beauty. Honestly, her name was as pretty as her appearance. Guess that was fitting for most people. 

"I'm Shotō. Sorry about that whole, me being freaked out and whatever. Temporary intimidation, fear or something or another. Let's just forget it even happened, k?"

Still trying to give her something of a smile, he continued to stand in front of her locking her gaze. Shifting, he stretched his arms and then placed his hands back on his backpack before brushing past her. Only a few feet away he turned back and called out to her. 

"So Touko, was it, right? Care for a little walk in the park? We got all this nice weather, no use wasting it, don't you think?"



[ OOC ] Touko Saitou